Alternative “A” for county growth
Alternative “A” for county growth
Dave Pros has the guest column. Dave served on the Whatcom County Planning Commission and has followed the GMA process for many years.
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Tonight at 7 pm at the County Courthouse, th
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Tonight at 7 pm at the County Courthouse, th
Dave Pros has the guest column. Dave served on the Whatcom County Planning Commission and has followed the GMA process for many years.
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Tonight at 7 pm at the County Courthouse, the council and planning commission will hold a joint public hearing on Growth Management. From noon till 7 pm is an "open house" with county plannign staff.
Here is Dave's Alternative "A" for tonight's Growth Meeting.
1. Growth is encouraged in all cities, and is directed into existing city boundaries.
2. Each city accommodates growth by taking the same percent of new population that its present population bears to the total county population or more.
Example: if Bellingham currently has 40% of the county population, it accommodates 40% or more of the new growth.
3. Cities are encouraged to accommodate new growth inside their downtown core, promoting positive urban community development and not by expanding their UGAs.
4. Growth is discouraged in the rural areas.
5. For the Policies 1-4, the County shall enact ordinances to ensure that these Policies are met. *
- For planning purposes the total population for 2029 should not exceed 220,000.
- 2029 population projection and allocation is the only projection to be addressed in 2009.
- As soon as the 2029 projection is complete we should begin a county-wide "Visioning Process", for 2031 Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan update.
- Public input should be used as the validating determination of a growth model, population projection, and population allocation.
* Policy enacting methods may include:
Cities: density averaging, designated special infill areas, ADUs
Rural areas: impervious surface limits, exempt well limits, rural land overlay
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Tonight at 7 pm at the County Courthouse, the council and planning commission will hold a joint public hearing on Growth Management. From noon till 7 pm is an "open house" with county plannign staff.
Here is Dave's Alternative "A" for tonight's Growth Meeting.
1. Growth is encouraged in all cities, and is directed into existing city boundaries.
2. Each city accommodates growth by taking the same percent of new population that its present population bears to the total county population or more.
Example: if Bellingham currently has 40% of the county population, it accommodates 40% or more of the new growth.
3. Cities are encouraged to accommodate new growth inside their downtown core, promoting positive urban community development and not by expanding their UGAs.
4. Growth is discouraged in the rural areas.
5. For the Policies 1-4, the County shall enact ordinances to ensure that these Policies are met. *
- For planning purposes the total population for 2029 should not exceed 220,000.
- 2029 population projection and allocation is the only projection to be addressed in 2009.
- As soon as the 2029 projection is complete we should begin a county-wide "Visioning Process", for 2031 Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan update.
- Public input should be used as the validating determination of a growth model, population projection, and population allocation.
* Policy enacting methods may include:
Cities: density averaging, designated special infill areas, ADUs
Rural areas: impervious surface limits, exempt well limits, rural land overlay
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